The name will certainly be familiar to fans of Cincinnati sports.
The Bengals have signed quarterback Desmond Ridder, according to NFL Network. Ridder was a star at the University of Cincinnati.
He was also almost Joe Burrow's teammate once before.
When Burrow was transferring away from Ohio State, he narrowed his options down to UC and LSU before deciding to head to the SEC school.
When Joe Burrow decided to transfer from Ohio State, his final two choices were UC and LSU. When he elected to go to Baton Rouge, Desmond Ridder was able to start as a redshirt freshman for the Bearcats. It certainly worked out well for both of them, and now they’re teammates. https://t.co/rW61PbK5GT
— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) July 20, 2025
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Ridder should be legitimate competition for the backup job in Cincy.
Before his signing, Jake Browning looked like the favorite to back up Burrow. The Bengals also had Logan Woodside, a journeyman, but they released him. They also have Payton Thorne, an undrafted rookie.
Ridder has the best pedigree of the bunch, including some starts in the NFL.
He has never delivered on his potential in the pro ranks, but Ridder could stick around as a solid backup to Burrow for years to come if everything breaks the right way for him.
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